Chl Content (chl + content)

Distribution by Scientific Domains


Selected Abstracts


PHOTOSYNTHETIC FUNCTION IN DUNALIELLA TERTIOLECTA (CHLOROPHYTA) DURING A NITROGEN STARVATION AND RECOVERY CYCLE

JOURNAL OF PHYCOLOGY, Issue 5 2003
Erica B. Young
Phytoplankton can be exposed to periods of N starvation with episodic N resupply. N starvation in Dunaliella tertiolecta (Butcher) measured over 4 days was characterized by slow reduction in cell chl and protein content and chl/carotenoid ratio and a decline in photosynthetic capacity and maximum quantum yield of photosynthesis (Fv/Fm). In the early stages of N starvation, cell division was maintained despite reduction in cellular chl. Chl content was more sensitive than carotenoids to N deprivation, and cellular chl a was maintained preferentially over chl b under N starvation. NO3, resupply stimulated rapid and complete recovery of Fv/Fm (from 0.4 to 0.7) within 24 h and commencement of cell division after 10 h, although N-replete levels of cell chl and protein were not reestablished within 24 h. Recovery of Fv/Fm was correlated with increases in cell chl and protein and was more related to increases in Fm than to changes in F0. Recovery of Fv/Fm was biphasic with a second phase of recovery commencing 4,6 h after resupply of NO3,. Uptake of NO3, from the external medium and the recovery of Fv/Fm, cell chl, and protein were inhibited when either cytosolic or chloroplastic protein synthesis was inhibited by cycloheximide or lincomycin, respectively; a time lag observed before maximum NO3, uptake was consistent with synthesis of NO3, transporters and assimilation enzymes. When both chloroplastic and cytosolic translation was inhibited, Fv/Fm declined dramatically. Dunaliella tertiolecta demonstrated a capacity to rapidly reestablish photosynthetic function and initiate cell division after N resupply, an important strategy in competing for limiting inorganic N resources. [source]


Chlorophyll content and fluorescence responses cannot be used to gauge reliably phytoplankton biomass, nutrient status or growth rate

NEW PHYTOLOGIST, Issue 3 2006
Mikaela Kruskopf
Summary ,,To consider the relationship between chlorophyll a (Chl a) content and phytoplankton growth and nutrient status, four phytoplankton species were grown in nitrogen (N)-limited [and, for one species, phosphorus (P)-limited] culture and measurements were made of CNP biomass, in vivo and in vitro Chl a content, the ratio of variable to maximum fluorescence (FV/FM) and the performance index for photosynthesis, PIABS (a derivative of the O-J-I-P analysis of photosystem II functionality). ,,Interspecies differences plus the development of intraspecies differences during nutrient stress produced c. 10-fold variations in Chl : C. Estimates of C from in vivo Chl content were better than those from extracted Chl content, as the decline in Chl : C during nutrient stress was offset in part by increased Chl fluorescence. ,,FV/FM was not a robust indicator of nutrient status or relative growth rate. Responses of FV/FM in cells re-fed the limiting nutrient showed no consistent pattern with which to gauge nutrient status. PIABS showed some promise as an indicator of nutrient status and relative growth rate. ,,Chl a content and fluorescence parameters do not deserve the unquestioned status they usually enjoy as indicators of biomass and physiological status. [source]


Changes in the Room-temperature Emission Spectrum of Chlorophyll During Fast and Slow Phases of the Kautsky Effect in Intact Leaves,

PHOTOCHEMISTRY & PHOTOBIOLOGY, Issue 2 2005
Fabrice Franck
ABSTRACT Changes in the room-temperature emission spectrum of chlorophyll (Chl) were analyzed using fast diode-array recordings during the Kautsky effect in mature and in greening barley leaves. In mature leaves, the comparison of Fo (basal level of fluorescence yield at transient O) and FM (maximum level of fluorescence yield at transient M) spectra showed that the relative amplitude of total variable fluorescence was maximal for the 684 nm Photosystem II (PSII) band and minimal for the 725 nm Photosystem I band. During the increase from Fo to FM a progressive redshift of the spectrum of variable fluorescence occurred. This shift reflected the different fluorescence rise kinetics of different layers of chloroplasts inside the leaf. This was verified by simulating the effect of screening on the emission spectrum of isolated chloroplasts and by experiments on greening leaves with low Chl content. In addition, experiments performed at different greening stages showed that the presence of uncoupled Chl at early-greening stages and lightharvesting complex II (LHCII) at later stages have detectable but minor effects on the shape of room-temperature emission spectra. When strong actinic light was applied to mature green leaves, the slow fluorescence yield, which declined from FM to FT (steady-state level of fluorescence yield at transient T), was accompanied by a slight redshift of the 684 nm PSII band because of nonphotochemical quenching of short-wavelengthemitting Chl ascribed to LHCII. [source]


Phosphorus alleviates aluminum-induced inhibition of growth and photosynthesis in Citrus grandis seedlings

PHYSIOLOGIA PLANTARUM, Issue 3 2009
Huan-Xin Jiang
Limited data are available on the effects of phosphorus (P) and aluminum (Al) interactions on Citrus spp. growth and photosynthesis. Sour pummelo (Citrus grandis) seedlings were irrigated for 18 weeks with nutrient solution containing 50, 100, 250 and 500 ,M KH2PO4× 0 and 1.2 mM AlCl3· 6H2O. Thereafter, P and Al in roots, stems and leaves, and leaf chlorophyll (Chl), CO2 assimilation, ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco) and Chl a fluorescence (OJIP) transients were measured. Under Al stress, P increased root Al, but decreased stem and leaf Al. Shoot growth is more sensitive to Al than root growth, CO2 assimilation and OJIP transients. Al decreased CO2 assimilation, Rubisco activity and Chl content, whereas it increased or did not affect intercellular CO2 concentration. Al affected CO2 assimilation more than Rubisco and Chl under 250 and 500 ,M P. Al decreased root, stem and leaf P, leaf maximum quantum yield of primary photochemistry (Fv/Fm) and total performance index (PItot,abs), but increased leaf minimum fluorescence (Fo), relative variable fluorescence at K- and I-steps. P could alleviate Al-induced increase or decrease for all these parameters. We conclude that P alleviated Al-induced inhibition of growth and impairment of the whole photosynthetic electron transport chain from photosystem II (PSII) donor side up to the reduction of end acceptors of photosystem I (PSI), thus preventing photosynthesis inhibition through increasing Al immobilization in roots and P level in roots and shoots. Al-induced impairment of the whole photosynthetic electron transport chain may be associated with growth inhibition. [source]